Farmersville seniors, from left, Jacey Wheaton (Texas Woman’s University, softball), Natalie Taylor (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, women’s soccer) and Callie Edwards (East Texas Baptist University, acrobatics and tumbling) each signed a National Letter of Intent on Dec. 3. Photo courtesy Kasey Delafuente / Farmersville ISD

By David Wolman

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Farmersville seniors Natalie Taylor (Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, women’s soccer), Callie Edwards (East Texas Baptist University, acrobatics and tumbling) and Jacey Wheaton (Texas Woman’s University, softball) each put pen to paper and signed a National Letter of Intent during a signing ceremony that was held in the school’s athletics film room on Dec. 3.

Relied on heavily for her experience playing club soccer, Taylor has helped to improve what had been a struggling program to one that is now on the rise and expected to compete for its first-ever playoff berth this upcoming season.

Named the District 11-4A Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore, Taylor, a midfielder, posted 26 goals and nine assists. She saw Farmersville take a big step this past season, one in which the Lady Farmers won five district matches for their most district wins in a single season and came within one win of making the playoffs for the first time in the program’s eight-year history. Following the season, Taylor was named the 11-4A Utility Player of the Year after scoring 20 goals with seven assists.

Although Edwards hasn’t competed in acrobatics and tumbling, she competed in gymnastics at a high level from ages 4 to 14. She began as a level 1 gymnast and worked her way up to level 8. She won numerous awards in gymnastics, including qualifying for state, regionals and nationals. She won event champion and all-around champion during her time in gymnastics.

Edwards left gymnastics after her eighth-grade year and joined the cheer team at Farmersville High School her freshman season. That year, she won the “Best Tumbler” award at a competition at Stephen F. Austin State University. Additionally, she was on the team that made the finals at the UIL state competition for the first time in school history.

Edwards also won an All-American award at a cheer camp.

She has been a member of the Farmersville High School powerlifting team since her freshman season and has qualified for regionals each of the last two years.

Meanwhile, Wheaton was tasked with replacing Carleigh Deeds, who was named the district’s Catcher of the Year twice and the Utility Player of the Year as a sophomore. Wheaton made a solid impression in her first season as Farmersville’s starting catcher.

Wheaton excelled defensively behind the plate and, offensively, came up with clutch hits while serving as the cleanup batter in the No. 4 spot in Farmersville’s batting order. She finished with a team-best .439 batting average, was second on the squad in hits with 29, notched six doubles and three triples, hit one home run, drove in a team-high 23 runs, scored 21 runs and had nine stolen bases. She was named to the all-district second team following the conclusion of the season.